A Spreadsheet Template With Scaled Graph Options Useful For Engineering Classes

This paper describes a spreadsheet template using Microsoft Office Excel with scaled graph capabilities. This template permits the students organize their calculations and print-out and make scaled graphs, which are necessary for a better understanding of an engineering problem. The template has two parts. The first part is prepared to make the necessary calculations with a format typically used in engineering offices. The second part permits scaled graphs useful to represent the problem and its solution. Both parts may be linked using the capabilities of Excel. When the student finishes an engineering problem using this template it is expected a calculation sheet with a professional presentation. However, the instructor must encourage that each step necessary for the calculation shall be clearly explained and documented. A survey performed show the acceptation of the template by the students, and the adaptation of this tool to different subjects and for the workplace.